Wars of the Roses - Chapter 2: The early actions of Richard, Duke of York

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

What motivated York to return?

-Duke of Suffolk's death in 1450

-Cade's rebellion and Normandy had been lost

-York arrived to England without being asked. getting a cold reception as Somerset sent men from the King's household

-Somerset had returned from his defeat in Normandy and filled the gap left by Suffolk at court

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

Did York want to clear his name?

-Rumours abounded (exist in large numbers) that York was behind Cade's rebellion as Jack Cade used the name Mortimer (York's mothers maiden name) - so he may want to clear his name from rebellion.

-He returned with 3,000 men

-York sent messages to the King thoughout his journey to London, declaring his loyalty to the King.

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

Did York want his loans repaid?

-He was owed £26,000 by the government

-He hadn't been paid wages as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

-His financial position by 1450 was such that he had to sell land to make ends meet

-His position demanded that he pay retainers and keep up appearances

-It was because of the £26,000 he was owed that he had threatened earlier in the year to return to England.

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

Did York return to protect his position?

-York was furious that Somerset became the King's chief councillor when York felt it should rightfully be his as the senior nobleman of the realm.

-He feared he was going to be side-lined again

-He also returned to protect his position as heir presumptive.

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

Did York return to remove Somerset?

-York was furious at Somerset's rise to chief advisor to crown (he felt was his by birth right)

-York also felt that Somerset was responsible for the loss of Normandy, and with it, much of York's property.

-From then on, York and Somerset were enemies.

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

Did York return to bring justice and end corruption?

-York claimed to be attacking the 'evil men' who surrounded the King - could of been influenced by his treatment in Wales when arriving back from Ireland or because of his genuine desire to see justice and good governance.

-York made a public statement in September 1450 calling for traitors to be brought to justice while he also asserted his loyalty to the crown at the same time.

-York was offered to join the council of advisers (he rejected the offer in September 1451)

What did York want to achieve on his return from Ireland?

Did York return to take the throne?

-There is evidence suggesting that some people saw York as a replacement to Henry VI

-A man was hanged in Ipswich for plotting to put York on the throne and one of Moleyns' murderers, in front of the King, threatened to put York on the throne

-York never said he wanted to become King and only wanted to advise him.

-Cade's rebels manifesto only wanted the King to take York's advice.

Why did the 1452 attempted coup fail?

The causes of the 1452 coup?

When York rejected the opportunity to join the King's council in Sep 1451, he made the decision to use force to impose his wishes on the King

Causes:

-York accused Somerset of plotting against him (no evidence for this however)

-York was also stilll seeking the removal of Somerset because of his failures in France.

-York wanted removal of Somerset from his position of power. He had tried to achieve this through using parliament and had failed; now he was using force.

-Henry VI's failure to act against Somerset and his continued show of favouritism towards him contributed to York's decision to attempt a coup.

Why did the 1452 attempted coup fail?

The events of 1452?

-York gained support of William Courtenay, Earl of Devon and Lord Cobham and headed for London.

-York issued statements declaring his loyalty for the King and swore and oath of allegiance in January 1452.

-York didn't get support of any other nobility, even from Kent (where Cade's rebellion was)

-London close their gates on York and didn't support him.

-York reached Dartford in Kent on 2 March to find King there with a strong army of his own

-York decided to submit to the King and presented Henry with his lists of complaints against Somerset but Henry didn't agree.

-York wasn't charged with treason but had to swear an oath of allegiance to the King and to never resort to force again.

Why did the 1452 attempted coup fail?

Reasons for York's lack of success

-The situation in 1452 was very different to that of 1450:

the campaigning in France was going well

the economy was recovering

parliament voted a tax to be paid to the King

Henry was active in overseeing justice in the South of England

-The majority of the nobility were unwilling to take up arms in support of York

-York's tactic of sending open letters to towns asking for support forewarned the King who thus had the time to assemble a larger army than York.

-London remained loyal to the King

-Kent didn't rise up in support of York

-Popular discontent had eased in England due to increased popularity.

-York's demands failed to have popular appeal probably because the attack on Somerset made York look as if he was motivated by personal issues rather than the greater good of the century

-York's actions looked like treason and therefore not many wanted anything to do with him.

Why did the 1452 attempted coup fail?

How big of an army was York able to attract for the coup?

Despite this, York was still able to attract an army of 20,000 men and to that extent it was not a complete failure.

This shows that York could attract a big army against King?

and could get support against King showing he could be a threat in the future?

Did Henry VI's illness cause problems for government?

When did Henry VI become ill

In August 1453, Henry became so ill, he was totally incapable of ruling.

Did Henry VI's illness cause problems for government?

What was the nature of Henry VI's illness?

-He seemed oblivious to his surroundings

-He couldn't speak or move without help

-He had no memory of the illness

-He could eat and drink with assistance and slept well

Did Henry VI's illness cause problems for government?

What were the causes of Henry VI's illness?

-The loss of Gascony

-The strain of the large amount of travelling he had been doing given his weak constitution

-The pressures of Margaret's pregnancy

-A hereditary condition (genetic) - a suggestion based on the fact that his maternal grandfather, Charles VI of France, was insane - he believed he was made of glass and would shatter if touched.

Did Henry VI's illness cause problems for government?

What was the impact of Henry VI's illness?

-Rivalry between Percy's and Nevilles should have been resolved by the King but weren't.

-Heworth wedding attack, (Percy's attacked the Nevilles) the King should have stopped it but no action taken as King was incapacitated and council lacked the confidence to act with sufficient firmness.

Nevilles turned to York

-Death of Cardinal Kemp (who was Archbishop of Cantebury and Chancellor or England) - without a chancellor , government could not continue.

-Duke of York was appointed as Protector and Defender of the Kingdom - 27 March 1454. (York's first protectorate)

So therefore, the King's illness had given York the power he craved.

When was Edward, Prince of Wales born and what did it mean.

-Edward, Prince of Wales, was born on 13 October 1453 and would become King in the future aslong as he survived

-This meant York was no longer heir presumptive

-The birth, however, didn't solve any problems with who should lead government

What was the reaction of the birth of Henry VI's heir?

-York was no longer heir presumptive but was determined to acquire the leading position on any regency council that should be needed given the King's incapacity

-Margaret meanwhile showed favour to Somerset having him involved in her son's christening.

-Two sides were clearly starting to form.

What was the reaction of the birth of Henry VI's heir?

What happened to Somerset on 23 November 1453?

-On 23 November 1453, Somerset was arrested and and sent to the Tower of London, but as there was no trial, it suggests that there was little legal validity made against him by Norfolk

What was the reaction of the birth of Henry VI's heir?

What was Margaret's reaction

-Margaret became fearful for her son's inheritance.

-She became determined York shouldn't become regent and that she should become regent herself, but had little support (probably due to her nationality and gender)

-York became Protector and Defender of England on 27 March 1454. (York's first protectorate)

What was the significance of the actions of Margaret of Anjou?

-The birth of her son and Henry's mental illness stirred Margaret into action.

-As she wasn't sure if Henry would recover, she realised that if her son would inherit the throne, it would be down to her.

-She didn't trust those around her to work for her son's best interests, especially the Duke of York.

-She tried to become regent to stop York.

What was the significance of Margaret's bid to become regent?

-Queen's in medieval times didn't normally have any direct involvement in government

-Margaret lacked support in her bid.

What was the effect of the Battle of St Albans (1455) on Margaret?

-The King got injured

-The battle confirmed her worst fears that York had raised and army and taken military action against the King.

-As a consequence of the Battle, Margaret has to watch her husband become a puppet in York's hands.

It confirmed that York was a threat to the family.

How did York become protectorate?

-Cardinal Kemp (Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor) died meaning the government couldn't function and the King couldn't appoint an archbishop/chancellor due to his illness so a regent was needed, so government couldn't continue.

-The Chancellor positionwas normally given away by the king and as he couldn't make the decision, a regent needed to be appointed so the governance of the country could go on.

-York called a parliament for February 1454, the attendance was very poor.

York wanted a good attendance so as many nobles as possible could be involved.

-There was a last ditch effort to see if the King could be roused but failed and consequently, York was appointed Protector.

York did have some constraints however:

-When the King recovered/young prince came of age

-The protectorate would end, there was some uncertainty about how long he would have power and

-York had some opposition from people such as the Duke of Exeter and the Percy's who rejected his authority.

Why was there a few months delay between Henry VI's illness and York's appointment?

-People such as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor, John Kemp, and others, for example, thought a protectorate led by York would seek revenge against Somerset.

The delay was probably due to these reservations.

How successful was York's first protectorate?

What were the successes and failures in York's attempts to build support?

Successes:

-York tried not to show to much favour to supporters

-He rewarded his supporters

-Earl of Salisbury, York's main supporter, was appointed chancellor

Failures:

-In attempts to deal with the Courtenay-Bonville feud in Devon, he lost one of his most longstanding allies, Courtenay, Earl of Devon

-Favoured Nevilles in Percy and Neville dispute

-Treatment of Somerset undermined his work.

How successful was York's first protectorate?

What were the successes and failures in York's treatment of Somerset?

-Somerset had been placed in the Tower of London in November 1453 having been accused of treason by the Duke of Norfolk over his failures in France.

-York wanted to put Somerset on trial but couldn't due to a lack of noblemen who were prepared to go along with York's attack on Somerset.

Successes:

-York became Captain of Calais rather than Somerset

Failures:

-Somerset would recover his power once the King recovered.

How successful was York's first protectorate?

What were the successes and failures in the reforms York introduced?

Successes:

-He reduced the size of the royal household in 1454 and it's expenditure in 1455 to £5,193 from the £24,000 in 1450.

-He persuaded wool merchants to resume making loans to government on the promise that it would be repayed.

-He made attempts to reform the navy, although he made little progress with this, it was a step in the right direction.

-York became Captain of Calais

Failures:

-He attempted to reform the navy but made little progress due to a lack of funds.

-He couldn't go to Calais due to the ending of his protectorate in early 1455.

How successful was York's first protectorate?

What were the successes and failures in how well York dealt with disorder and justice?

-Worsening disorder around the country was prehaps the biggest challenge to York's protectorate.

-York tried to be as even-handed as he could but nobles didn't have faith in York's ability to administer impartial justice to resolve their disputes.

Successes:

-He distributed grants of titles and positions more fairly than the King.

-York acted vigourously to deal with rebellion by the Percy's and the Duke of Exeter by gathering an army and heading north to deal with the trouble.

-Exeter fled to Westminster Abbey but was removed by York

-At the Battle of Stamford Bridge, November 1454, the Percy's were defeated and the leaders captured.

Failures:

-Attempts to deal with the Courtenay-Bonville fued in Devon lost York a longstanding ally (Courtenay, Earl of Devon)

-Exeter joined the Percy's, after not being appointed Protectorate, in the north and began a rebellion where they attacked Neville property abd took control of the city of York on 5 days in May 1454.

-Some refused to accept York's authority

What was the impact of Henry VI's recovery?

What was the immediate impact of Henry VI's recovery?

-Early in 1455, York's protectorate came to an end.

-Henry VI's full recovery was reported early in January 1455 and slowly lead to the re-emergence of Somerset.

-At the start of February 1455, Henry ordered Exeter to be released.

-Somerset was released from the Tower on 4th February and restored to power a month later.

-Somerset would now want to seek revenge.

Two sides were beginning to form more clearly.

What was the impact of Henry VI's recovery?

What did Henry VI's recovery mean for York and the Nevilles?

-Apart from Somerset, York tried to make an inclusive council but the return of Henry VI saw the return of a narrow based government focused on Somerset and his supporters.

-The re-emergence of Somerset firmly established the alliance between York and the Nevilles.

-The Nevilles had always been loyal to the Lancastrian Kings and they dominated the north.

-Had the government dealt with the Nevilles differently, they may have remained loyal to the Lancastrians.

-The favouring of the Percy's over the Nevilles in disputes pushed the Nevilles into supporting York who they believed would provide justice and they came with a sizeable amry.

-In April, Henry called a parliament which York and the Nevilles didn't attend as they thought it was a trap.

-Prehaps the Nevilles saw York as the only possible way to retain their position, having seen their enemies, such as Exeter and Northumberland, find favour at court.